Direction indicator



w. A. JACOBUS 7 70 D IRECTION INDI CATOR Filed Sept. 28, '1936 Ill/III/III/ Patented Aug. 22, 1939 UNITED STTES PATENT orrics 2 Claims.

This invention relates to motor vehicle direction indicators, the primary object of the invention being toprovide asignal of this character including an arrow or indicating arm which may 5 be readily extended or retracted, by the action of an electric motor.

An important object of the invention is to provide an indicator wherein the arm or indicating arrow will be automatically retracted and moved to its inactive position when the electric circuit to the motor is broken. Another object of the invention is to provide a direction indicator which may be readily and easily mounted on the instrument board or other convenient place on a motor vehicle, eliminating the necessity of mak ing extensive alterations in the motor vehicle construction to mount the signal.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of What is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the inven tion.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is an elevational view of a signaling device constructed in accordance with the invention, illustrating the signaling device as mounted on an instrument board.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the signaling device.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view illustrating the means for feeding the screw of the movable sleeve which carries the indicating arrow, into the spirially formed groove of the motor shaft.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the signal embodies an elongated casing or body portion 5 having ears 5 extending therefrom, which ears are formed with openings to receive securing screws, whereby the casing or body portion may be secured to a supporting surface.

As clearly shown by Figure 2 of the drawing, 50 the inner end of the casing or body portion 5 is slightly enlarged, providing a support for the motor 1 which will be operated by electric current supplied from a suitable source of electricity supply. A suitable switch will be supplied for 55 controlling the electric energy passing to the motor, so that the motor may be operated at the will of the driver.

Secured to the shaft of the motor 7, is ashaft 8, which-is formed with a spiral groove 9 -extending to the groove Ill, formed near one end of the 5 shaft 8. Mounted on the shaft 8, is a sleeve II that is provided with a screw l2, which is disposed in the spiral groove 9 of the shaft 8. The sleeve II is square in cross section, and operates through a square opening formed in the member l3 which is supported within the casing 5 as clearly shown by Figure 2. This member l3 provides a support for the sleeve II, and prevents rotary movement of the sleeve, with the result that when the shaft 8 rotates, the sleeve M will be moved longitudinally of the shaft 8 to extend or retract the arrow M, which moves beyond the end of the casing or body portion 5, when a signal is made.

It might be stated, that the arrow M is provided with an electric lamp 45, whereby the arrow will be clearly Visible at night.

Disposed within the groove Hi, is a washer it, which washer is urged towards the screw [2, by means of the coiled spring l6 so that the screw i 2 will be fed to the spiral groove 9 of the shaft 8, when the sleeve II has moved to the limit of its outward movement, and it is desired. to retract the sleeve and arrow.

Loosely mounted on the shaft 8, is a spring housing H, in which the spring [8 is mounted, the spring l8 having one of its ends secured to the spring housing at I9, while the opposite end thereof is secured to the shaft 8, at 20. A friction brake, in the form of a brake band 2|, is secured within the casing or body portion 5, and is mounted on the arm 2| extending from the housing of the motor 5. The band 2! cooperates with the spring housing, with the result that the rotary motion of the shaft 8, is reduced to the end 40 that the arrow will not be extended too rapidly.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when the motor 1 rotates, the spring l8 will be placed under tension, and when the spring has been wound to its limit, the spring, together with its housing l1, will rotate with the shaft.

The brake band 2!, may be adjusted by means of the adjusting screw 22, so that the brake may be adjusted to meet various requirements.

The operation of the signal is. as follows; assunning that the arrow is in. its retracted position and it is desired to extend the arrow to display a signal, the electric circuit to the motor 1 is completed, causing rotation. of the shaft 8. As the shaft 8 rotates, the screw I2 is slid through the spiral groove of the shaft 8, where it reaches the groove 10, or the limit of its outward movement. As before stated, the spring I8 is now placed under tension with the result that when the circuit to the motor I is broken, the spring IE will immediately rotate the shaft 8 in the opposite direction resulting in the sleeve ll, being returned to its normal position, and the arrow retracted to a position within the casing or body portion.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a direction indicator, an elongated hollow body portion, an electric motor mounted within the body portion, a shaft having a spirally formed groove, rotated by the motor, said shaft having a circumferential groove communicating with the spirally formed groove at one end thereof, a spring in the circumferential groove, a member having a square opening mounted within the body portion, a sleeve square in cross: section movable through the square opening, a pin carried by the sleeve and disposed in the spirally formed groove, whereby the sleeve is fed. longitudinally of the shaft and extended beyond one end of the hollow body portion when the shaft is rotated in one direction, said pin adapted to move into the circumferential groove against the action of the spring, and said spring adapted to urge the pin into the spirally formed groove when the shaft rotates in the opposite direction.

2. In a direction indicator, an elongated hollow body portion, a motor Within the body portion, a shaft having a spirally formed groove, rotated by the motor, said shaft having a circumferential groove communicating with the spirally formed groove, a sleeve mounted on the shaft, a pin carried by the sleeve and disposed within the spirally formed groove whereby the sleeve is moved longitudinally of the shaft and extended beyond one end of the hollow body portion when the shaft is rotated in one direction, said pin adapted to move into the circumferential groove, and means in the latter groove for directing the pin to the spirally formed groove when the shaft rotates in one direction.

WARREN A. JACOBUS. 

